Downstream Audit Program

Over the past year, the RMI has been approached by multiple companies within the tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold supply chains who seek validation of their sourcing practices yet are not eligible to participate in the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) as they do not meet the definition of a smelter/refiner. These companies are increasingly requested by their customers to demonstrate their responsible sourcing practices are aligned with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, and to provide validated information about their due diligence activities. To address this emerging request, the RMI worked with a multi-stakeholder team of RMI members, smelters, and downstream processing facilities, to design and launch a pilot program that provides an independent validation of companies’ sourcing practices outside of the RMAP audit process. The program was launched in April 2016 with six companies that chose to voluntarily participate in the assessment process.

The RMI hosted a webinar providing an overview of the new downstream program on December 8, 2016. You may access a recording of the webinar here. The presentation slides are also available here.

Downstream Program Participants

Who is Eligible?

Companies that fall within the following categories are eligible for participating in this program:

PROCESSOR: Companies who procure tantalum, tin, tungsten or gold (3TG) products to transform, process or otherwise treat the material and that are not considered a “smelter” or “refiner” according to the applicable CFSP Audit Protocol.

TRADER: Companies trading in materials where the material traded is in the same chemical and physical state as received.

MANUFACTURER: Companies who source 3TG products indirectly from smelters or refineries, regardless of the number of tier levels between the company and the smelter / refiner.

NOTE: Any smelter site belonging to a company that owns a primary smelter is also considered to be a primary smelter and therefore is not eligible for the Downstream Audit Program.

Cost

The auditee is responsible for the cost of the audit, which is dependent on the size of the facility, the complexity of the operations and location, among other factors. The RMI charges a $750 management fee in addition to the auditor firm’s quoted cost.

Objective

Provide a mechanism for downstream companies to obtain independent validation of responsible sourcing practices, including that:

The company’s due diligence system is designed and implemented in accordance with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance;

There is no reason to believe goods directly or indirectly financed or benefited armed groups that are perpetrators of serious human rights abuses in the DRC or an adjoining country; and

The extent to which each process is reviewed is tailored according to the type of company.

Process Reviewed

Mineral Processors

Traders

Manufacturing/Assembly

Determination of Scope

x

x

Supplier Management

x

x

Supply Chain Transparency

x

x

x

Due Diligence

x

x

x

CMRT

x

x

x

What is Assessed?

The audit is carried out against the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. The audit follows the ISO19011:2011 standard for management systems audits to assess a company’s processes to:

Determine the products and suppliers included in the effort to identify smelters and refineries in the supply chain to confirm that the scope is correctly defined

What are the benefits of participating?

Consolidates reporting requirements within the downstream by making the auditing and reporting process more streamlined.

External review of supply chain due diligence program, which provides an assessment of:

The scope of the program;

The design and effectiveness of due diligence activities;

The accuracy of reporting to customers;

Full Audit Report, including all information pertaining to the audit;

Audit Summary Report that can be shared with interested customers or made public (confidential information redacted);

Public listing via an online and publicly accessible RMI registry, which lists companies that have passed the audit;

Relevance for companies importing 3TG-containing products into the EU in light of the new EU Directive on Conflict Minerals, which requires mandatory due diligence for importers of minerals and metals of 3TG.

Demonstrate year on year improvement of due diligence for your company

Who Conducts the Audtis

The Downstream Audit Program is a third-party audit. RMI works with the auditors on our approved audit firm list as well as the following to conduct the Downstream Audit Program Assessments.